Apple Sucks: Guy Gear

Apple Still Sucks

July 16, 2010 - Steve Jobs just made an announcement regarding the antenna and reception issues "plaguing" the iPhone 4. As a result, we've updated our entry that discusses this topic.

With 1.7 million iPhone 4s sold in one weekend, one iPad sold every 2.3 seconds and over five billion apps downloaded from the iTunes App Store, to say that Apple is a technological and cultural success would be an understatement. Apple has created some of the most buzzed-about and forward-thinking consumer electronics on the market, and has built an empire on the blending of form with function, quality with cool and user-friendliness with the high end.

However, for all of its magical and revolutionary (Steve Jobs’ words, not ours) products, we’d be foolish not to admit that Apple sucks from time to time. It is easy to be blinded by the latest and greatest Apple gadget, but that does not mean that they are perfect.

Believe it or not, Apple sucks sometimes, and we’re here to illuminate… if we can ever finish getting this article typed out on our iPad.

apple sucks: guy gear

iPhone: It does everything but make phone calls

Steve Jobs' announcement was heavy on stats that basically said a drop in bars is common ground on all smartphones and that Apple knew of the problem before the iPhone 4 was launched. He also "admitted" that the iPhone 4 does drop more calls, albeit marginally more, than the 3GS. Jobs went on to say that the drop in bars and calls is a result of bumpers, claiming that the same issues would have resulted with the 3GS if 3G users didn't already have bumpers that they used on their new phones. So, the Apple fix: Apple is giving out free bumper cases through September and refunds for iPhone 4 owners who've already purchased bumpers. If you're still not happy, Apple will give you a refund within 30 days of purchase. The fact that this offer is only valid through September suggests there will be a fix for all iPhone 4s released afterward. By all accounts, the new iPhone 4 is a major leap forward for smartphones and a massive technical upgrade over the previous 3G S model. Committed Apple fans and technophiles waited for hours in nearly endless lines to snag their release-weekend iPhones, excited to try out the new video chat, multitasking, HD video capture, and blazingly fast processor. All of the new features are as good as advertised, if not better, but there is one thing that the iPhone still struggles with, and that is actually making phone calls. Whether it is AT&T’s spotty service or using an incorrect hand grip while trying to talk on the device (Consumer Reports says the problematic grip involves holding the phone in the lower left-hand corner — and this whole antenna issue has sparked a class-action lawsuit with no apparent fix and a potential recall that will cost $1.5 billion), Apple’s iPhone 4 just can’t seem to grasp the basic function of starting and completing a call consistently.

The lack of flash on the iPad

When Apple announced the iPad to the general public, it was billed as the best way ever to surf the internet. With its vibrant and bold screen, intuitive touch controls and lap-resting form, it would make sense to browse the web on your iPad as opposed to being hunched over a desk or with an overheating laptop on your crotch. However, there is one big pothole on this utopian information superhighway, and that is Apple’s lack of Flash support. Sure, HTML5 is gaining support and popularity, but numerous major websites utilize Flash, and when trying to access these pages on an iPad, you are left with an internet experience that has more missing content than a top-secret CIA document — and that means that Apple sucks. For the industrious types who are jonesing for Flash on their iPads, it is possible (although not suggested) to jailbreak the tablet, and download a program called Frash. You will need a measure of computer know-how to install Frash, but it is easy enough to source out step-by-step instructions and guides to complete the task. It does not support video playback at this early stage, but animations and games work fine, and there are plans to support Frash in the near future.

Apple: There’s an accessory for that

It is not enough for Apple to sell all of its products at a premium, but once you finish maxing out the credit card on a new Macbook Pro or 27-inch iMac display you get taken to the cleaners with all of the must-buy accessories and add-ons — and for that, Apple sucks. From a sheer business perspective, it is hard to fault Apple for wanting to make money, but does the company really have to sell a wall outlet charger separately from an iPod touch? And does the MacBook have to have a special display port to connect to your TV instead of a standard HDMI cable? From carrying cases to workout cases to cleaning kits to docking stations and everything in between, it can require a second job just to outfit your prized new Apple gadget with all the proper trimmings.

D-pad-less gaming

There is no question that gaming on Apple’s fleet of portable devices is both a smashing success and here to stay, but that doesn’t mean you should throw away your Nintendo DS or PSP just because it isn’t manufactured by the fine folks from Cupertino. While the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are great with puzzle games, tower defense titles and unique touch-control apps, Apple sucks for precision-based control without a D-pad. If it is proof you are looking for, just try to play console classics like Mega Man 2 or Sonic the Hedgehog on an iPhone. They are downright broken. Cutting-edge, revolutionary and with style to spare, Apple does make some unbeatable devices, but a core gaming experience has yet to be achieved.

Apple and its walled garden

In Apple we surely trust, but that does not mean we want them to make every decision about how we use its products and what sort of software we install on them. While we would be hard-pressed to knock Apple’s UI experience when it comes to things like the iPad and the iPhone 4, it would be nice to have options. And it's precisely the lack of options that has another pending class-action law suit claiming Apple and AT&T are a monopoly, which locks consumers into a five-year deal with AT&T. If you are tech-savvy or have a blatant disregard for warranties, you could jailbreak your Apple device, but it would be welcome to see Apple offer a little more freedom of choice to us users.